‘I’m a mechanic - a common windshield wiper error during winter costs drivers hundreds’

A mechanic with 56 years of experience has explained how drivers can easily damage their windshield wipers during winter by skipping an easy preliminary measure.  

The work-from-home auto technician, Scotty Kilmer, highlighted the mistake on YouTube in a video filmed outside his garage. 

Scotty (@scottykilmer) said in his clip that some drivers walk outside to find their car’s windshield wipers frozen during winter, start their vehicle, and activate the wipers when there’s remaining ice on the windscreen.  

This experienced mechanic warns that attempting to activate frozen wipers on an icy windshield can damage the wipers’ motor or fuse.

Installing a new windshield wiper motor can cost anywhere from $90 to $225 on average, according to AutoZone.

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Windshield wiper fuses are cheaper but can cause you to pay an hourly labor fee for professional installation, bringing the service’s total cost to around $80 and $135. 

However, Scotty informs viewers that they can avoid these repair fees by leaving their vehicle’s windshield wipers up during the cold season while the car’s parked overnight during winter.

He explains how placing your vehicle’s windshield wipers up allows you to take an ice scraper tool and remove ice that would otherwise block the wipers’ path.

It’s vital to exercise caution when moving cold windshield wipers back to their standard position, as exuding excess force can cause the components to break. 

Scotty urges viewers to never use their scraper on car paint after clearing windshield ice since this action can easily damage your exterior with defects like scratches.

Instead, you should use a brush, typically located on the other side of these scraper tools.